Not only could Lunetta use unrivaled magic, the fact that she knew this kingdom’s magic inside and out was exactly what had allowed her to make such an astounding magic gem.
“You take it,” Vyce had said, handing it to Livio. When it came to magical knowledge, Vyce came up short.
Livio circulated his own magical energy to trigger the spell embedded in the magic gem.
At once, the magic gem and magic circle both began to glow. Then, the very moment the light disappeared, Livio was surprised to discover that the entire wall had vanished with it.
The small, stone room before them was dusty and stank of mold.
It seemed like no one had stepped foot in the room for years on end. Inside was a single book.
“There’s a barrier here.”
“That’s a whole lotta security,” Vyce said. “Looks like we’re on the right track.” He smirked, looking entirely like a villain. They were right in the middle of ransacking a king’s bedroom, so perhaps that wasn’t entirely inaccurate. Who would’ve thought being bad could be so much fun?
Livio held up the magic gem once more, circulating his magical energy through it again.
Immediately, red light poured from the gem. As soon as the light vanished however, the magic gem cracked.
“It looks like the magic Lady Lunetta imbued the gem with has run out,” Livio said. “It seems both the previous seal and this barrier were magic of a considerable level.”
“Yeah, well, they have to keep it safe somehow,” Vyce replied. “It’d be a real problem if some schemin’ criminal came along and ran off with it.”
“Indeed,” Livio agreed. “It’d be even worse if the criminal were to wind up catching a glimpse of its contents.”
“You said it,” Vyce replied, snickering as he flipped through the pages of the book.
“The hell...?” he growled, sounding unhappy.
While the king had the habit of giving a rough response along the lines of “The hell?” when he was addressed, there was something different about this utterance. It was like a hand crawling up from the depths of the earth to clutch your ankles or having a blood-soaked blade pointed at your throat. In other words, his response now showed that he was moments away from snapping.
“Sir Vyce...?”
Having been raised by the wildest beast in the whole kingdom, this was hardly enough to make Livio flinch. But there must have been something awful written on those pages, Livio thought, furrowing his brow. Just as Livio didn’t flinch at Vyce’s anger, the king wasn’t the type to get worked up all that easily.
And on that note...
Whenever someone like him got angry, it was usually on someone else’s behalf. In other words, there’d been something that would hurt Lunetta written in that book. Livio watched Vyce as he flipped through the pages, trying to determine if he could ask Vyce what it was. He was flipping through the pages at an incredible pace. Wonder if he’s actually reading all that?
On second thought, it’s fine, Livio thought, stepping out of the room. He looks like he’s concentrating, so I’ll just let him be.
It looked like Vyce had found something he could use, so Livio decided to leave the room so he could keep watch and make sure no one stumbled in. A little late to be keeping watch, admittedly.
From what Lunetta had said, the magicians were all apparently rushing about trying to deal with the “curse,” so they didn’t have anything to worry about. Even if someone did find them, it was just a matter of knocking their lights out.
Apparently, the “curse” was seeping out bit by bit from a certain room at the moment. Thanks to Lunetta’s magic and a god’s divine protection, Livio and Vyce were just fine, but the white-robed magicians they’d passed along the way had certainly looked unwell. Do take care now!
Livio hid his face in the recesses of his hood, only for Vyce to emerge from the room.
“Whoa.”
“What?”
“You’re in one helluva mood, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, guess I am.”
You “guess”?!
That sort of anger would be enough to make anyone besides Livio nearly wet themselves. It wasn’t anger—it was practically murderous rage. You can get this angry, and you still say you don’t have any romantic feelings for her? Fine, just blow up then, you heart-stealing swindler!
“Get a move on,” Vyce said.
“To that room, you mean?”
“That’s right,” Vyce answered. “The king and Lunetta probably have two different things in mind when it comes to breaking the curse. When the barrier gets broken, you can count on the king shoutin’ up a storm in that room.”
Vyce made no attempt to conceal the anger in his footsteps as he stormed down the hallway with Livio following him.
Just then—
“Livio, help!!!”
The moment Livio heard her voice, he was already running.
Which direction had her voice come from? It wasn’t far. It was the opposite side—and lower down. Livio brandished his sword as he ran. Faster! Run faster! You’ve got to run faster!
The only ones who could catch Livio when he actually tried to run were his father, his father’s own steed, and Matcha. He was confident in his speed. The fact that he’d hung his hood well past his face to conceal his black hair was the last thing on Livio’s mind.
Instead, he simply ordered his body to run fast.
Grateful for the keen, animalistic senses that his instructor at the Knight Academy had praised him for, Livio ran in the direction of the voice, only to realize there was a gaping opening at the end of the hallway showing a blue sky poking through on the other side.
That was it.
There was no time for Livio to have any second thoughts. Without so much as an ounce of hesitation, Livio leaped down, finding Sophie writhing in the air.
Lunetta was close by as well, floating in the air the same way.
What’s happening?! I don’t know.
But Livio could see the undulations of magical energy. There was a man with long golden hair and a crude grin on his face. He had to be a magician—he had to be the criminal who was doing this. Looking closely, Livio could see that the golden-haired man was connected to the two of them with magical energy.
That made it simple then.
That’s a relief! If it had been some complex spell, I would’ve had to actually think about it!
“I’m gonna cleave it in half!”
If they were connected, then it was just a matter of cutting them free. That had to be the solution, right? More importantly, as far as Livio was concerned, it was unforgivable for anyone other than himself to be connected to Sophie.
Brandishing his blade in the air, he brought it down with all his might.
✦ ✦ ✦
Livio felt some resistance against his blade, so he doubled down on his sword as he swung it downward. He felt his blade cut through with a snap, as if he’d lopped off something massive. The man wailed as Sophie’s body grew limp.
Catching her while she was still in the air, Livio tore a broad arc above him with his sword as he landed.
Once again, Livio felt an unsettling snap run through his blade. That same moment, the man went flying off into the distance. Livio breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that he wouldn’t need to make a follow-up attack for the time being.
Just when Livio stretched out his hand to say that Lunetta was going to fall, Vyce leaped down from above, landing on the ground before catching Lunetta.
He was one helluva swindler, all right! Nice catch!
Sophie coughed. Livio plunged his sword into the ground and inspected Sophie’s face.
Livio leaned her against his knees, pushing the hair that had fallen across her face behind her ear. Sophie was caught in a tear-muddled coughing fit, her hands shaking, either from fear or lack of oxygen. Whatever it was, there was no mistaking the fact that she had to have been terrified.
Livio had vowed to keep her safe no matter what—but now look! Livio bit his lip, ashamed of what a poor job he’d done, only for Sophie to give him a pained but happy smile.
“You really will rescue me every time, won’t you?”
Livio gasped.
Oh... Oh man... How... How is she this amazing...?
Those noble types really do know how to win over someone’s heart! She doesn’t even realize it, but she’s made a quivering puddle out of me! I’m a mess! But I don’t mind that a bit. It just makes me like her more and more and more! Because that’s something I can be proud of too, you know?
“For you,” Livio said, “I’ll do anything and everything, no matter what it takes.”
Livio had spent three whole years waiting for this very day.
Livio had run through those days in hopes of being the knight who could be the first one to come running—in hopes of hearing Sophie say just that.
That first time he’d held her small frame in his arms, he’d wanted to hear Sophelia say how she truly felt from her own sweet lips. But now, finally! Livio had finally been able to hear her say it.
Oh man, this is the best worst day ever!
“Thank you,” Livio said, “for calling for me.”
Sophie’s sweet caramel eyes narrowed happily. Livio wanted to gulp down those caramel eyes.
He brought his lips down to hers.